Tried tubes and LOVED it, now what?


Hi all, I had Solid state all my life until I bought a used integrated tubes amp Cayin a88-T for $1,000 and love it to death, but after few years, now what? I’m Thinking of movng up the chain but not sure where to go. Most of my speakers are bookshelf and small floorstandings. Thanks
128x128nasaman
@freediver the kt88 tubes were replaced with el-34s by seller and I liked the result. My room is (overly) treated with acoustics foams and panels. Ive been having fun playing with diff power cords and ICs but so affraid on trying diff tubes, bias, rolling etc. I don’t mind keeping the amp for a bit longer.
@teo_audio   Who is here familiar with modding the cayin A88-T will h great result?
@nasaman I’m glad to hear you found more happiness with tubes.

The Cayin A88T was a very good product, and Steve imported a lot of them. You can certainly do better, but you have to work a bit to ensure you don't just make a sideways move.

I agree with @freediver in that outside of output power on paper, the EL34 outclasses the bigger tubes, sonically.

For me, it’s easier to stick with an integrated tube amplifier, and an obviously more compact solution. I’d suggest finding an Air Tight ATM1, Jadis DA60 or DA88S, or VAC Auricle. While Air Tight calls the ATM1 a power amplifier, its level controls allow you to use it as an integrated provided you don’t mind switching cables to change from one source to another. The Jadis models sound about as good as you can find out there, and also allow you the flexibility to dial in the best sound for you by running ANY EL34 / 6CA7 / KT77 / 6550 / KT88 and maybe even the bigger tubes by simple plug and play. Finally, the VAC Auricle can come with a decent phono stage if you do analog, and don’t have a better external. I predict while you’ll need to have a bit of patience to find one of these, as they come up for sale less often than some other products, you’ll find any of these allow you to easily hear that you took a few steps up the ladder
As usual a thoughtful and informative post from trelja. I have to agree with him in particular regarding Jadis (really good quality output transformers)  amplifiers. They are wonderful sounding music reproducing instruments. AirTight is no doubt a fine choice as well.

If keeping the current amplifier you can begin with upgrading to high quality coupling capacitors such as Duelund CAST or Jupiter copper foil. This level of capacitors do make a difference.
Charles
nasaman I forgot about what is involved in biasing that amp...Start rolling with the small signal tubes,they do not affect bias voltage...